ELKINS, W.Va., August 12, 2025—Forest Road (FR) 209 and the popular Stonecoal Dispersed Camping area along the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River on the Monongahela National Forest will officially reopen on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Forest Road 209 has been closed since the summer of 2023 to ensure public safety during road construction and bridge replacement. Construction of a new bridge over Red Run was needed to improve public safety and access.
Stonecoal Dispersed Camping area and Forest Road 209 provide access to a scenic section of the national forest, known for its solitude, trout fishing, and rustic camping opportunities. “We’re excited to reopen Forest Road 209 and welcome the public back to this beautiful part of the forest,” said Shane Jones, Greenbrier District Ranger. “Staff on the Monongahela have worked hard to ensure the area is safe, accessible, and ready for a season of outdoor recreation.”
Check the Monongahela National Forest website for additional information and updates: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/monongahela.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
